Stamp afflxing mechanism for printing presses



y 1, 1934- H. c. GANTZ 1,956,862

STAMP AFFIXING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Nov. 26, 1932 5 SheetsSheet l ATTORNEY May 1, 1934.

H. c. GANTZ 1,956,862

STAMP AFFIXING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Nov. 26, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 V/ ///////////f /fli 94 INVENTOR Mar/y 61622063. BY W4 ATTORNEY May 1, 1934. H. c. GANTZ STAMP AFFIXING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Nov. 26, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY 5" 73 51% INVENTOR May 1, 1934.

H. C. GANTZ STAMP AFFIXING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Nov. 26. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ,Warry. (1115:;

H 47 ATTORNE Patented May 1, 1934 UNETEB STATES STAMP AFFIXING MECHANISIt-E FOR PRENTING PRESSES Harry 0. Gantz, Seattle, Wash, assignor of onehalf to George W. Milne, Seattle, Wash.

Application November 26, 1932, Serial No. 644,440

20 illaims.

This invention relates to stamp affixing mechanisms for printing presses and aims primarily to provide a stamp afiixing mechanism for a printing press especially designed and adapted for effecting the simultaneous printing and stamping of envelopes, cards, wrappers, or the like, of any desired or selected size.

The invention broadly contemplates combining printing type and stamp afiixing mechanism .10 in locked spaced relation Within a printing press chase, whereby said stamp affixing mechanism is actuated by the printing press during each printing operation thereof, to thus eifect stamping of envelopes, or other articles, concurrently with the printing of the same.

The invention also contemplates a novel method of printing and affixing a stamp to an envelope, card, wrapper, or the like, which broadly consists of adhesively moistening the stamp,

- then printing the envelope, or other article, and

concurrently therewith adhesively uniting said moistened stamp thereto.

The invention is also primarily and particularly concerned and essentially resides in novel and improved stamp afiixing mechanism for use with and operation in printing apparatus, addressing machines, or the like, embodying a device for supporting a roll of stamps from which a continuous strip is withdrawn and passed through the stamp amxing mechanism, said device having means incorporated therewith for aligning and tensioning such continuous strip; means for guiding and longitudinally curling the strip while the same is passing through the mechanism to thereby stiifen and thus effectually prevent end curling of same; means for intermittently feeding the stamp strip through the mechanism; means for individually moistening the adhesively coated stamps on said strip between the intermittent movements of the latter; means for cutting individual stamps from said strip and afiixlng the same to the article to be stamped; and means for eflectuating simultaneous actuation of said strip feeding means and stamp cutting means and for actuating said moistening means intermediately of cutting and feeding operations, all of which are important objects of the invention and are to be correlated in the broad aim of enhancing the efliciency of the stamp afliXing mechanism for the uses and purposes for which the same is especially designed. The above, and additional objects Which will hereinafter be more specifically treated are attained by such means as are shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more clearly pointed out in the claims, which are appended hereto and form part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, in which there is illustrated one embodiment of the invention, and throughout the several views of which like characters of reference designate similar parts:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a printing press equipped with a stamp aflixing mechanism comprehended by the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken through 22 of Figure l, as it would appear during an inking operation of the printing type or corner card.

Figure 3 is a similar section taken through 3-3 of Figure 1, as it would appear during a printing and stamp aifixing operation.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the stamp aflixing mechanism, as it would appear when detached from the chase of its correlated printing press.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof taken through 5-5 of Figure 6.

Figure 6 is an end view of the same.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken through 77 of Figure 13.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken through 8-8 of Figure 15, with certain parts of the stamp aflixing mechanism removed and certain other parts shown in section for clarity of illustration.

Figures 9, l0 and 11 are vertical transverse sections taken through 9-9, 10-10 and 11--11, respectively, of Figure 5.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken substantially through the same vertical plane as Figure 11, with the stamp feeding lever illustrated in an elevated or retracted position.

Figure 13 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through 13--13 of Figure 9.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken through 14-14 of Figure 5.

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the stamp affixing unit.

Figures 16, 1'7 and 18 are horizontal sections taken through 16-16, l'l17 and 18-18, respectively, of Figure 5.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken through 1919 of Figure 5 with the stamp cutter and affixing plate illustrated in an advanced or stamp afiixing position.

Figure 20 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section taken through 2020 of Figure 4, with the stamp feeding mechanism illustrated in a fully retracted position in full lines and in a fully advanced position in dot and dash lines.

Figure 21 is a similar section taken through 21-21 of Fig. 8.

Figure 22 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of the water tank and pump chamber for moistening the stamp strip.

Figure 23 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through 2323 of Figure 21.

Figure 24 is a perspective view of one of the spring pressed stamp feeder fingers and its correlated spring, as they would appear when cletached from their correlated stamp feeding mechanism.

Figure 25 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the bracket and reel for supporting the stamp roll.

Figure 26 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken through 2626 of Figure 1, and

Figure 27 is a front elevation of an envelope printed and stamped in accordance with the present invention.

Beginning now the more detailed description of the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 28 generally designates a printing press, of well known type, having a bed 29, a chase 30, a lever 31 for clamping the chase to the bed, lock-up blocks or devices 32, coin keys 33, a corner card or printing type 34, an inking disk 35, an inking roller or rollers 36, a platen 37, gauge pins 38, and grippers 39, all of which are common to a printing press and function in a familiar manner, hence require no further description.

The numeral generally designates a stamp aiiixing mechanism or apparatus of the type comprehended by the present invention, which mechanism is extremely compact and is so fabricated as to accommodate the various instrumentalities, which feed, guide, longitudinally bend, moisten, cut and affix the stamps to the matter being printed, said instrumentalities being preferably arranged in groups or units, as hereinafter described, so that each separate group or unit is rendered readily accessible for rapid adjustment and may be expeditiously removed from the mechanism for purposes of repairs or replacement, without disturbing or disassembling the other correlated groups or units thereof.

In the present instance, stamps are furnished to the stamp affixing mechanism 40 in the form of a perforated strip 41 which passes from a roll of stamps 42 rotatively mounted upon a stationary shaft or rod 43 between axially adjustable flanges or disks 44, which latter are adapted to be adjustably secured to said shaft in spaced parallel relation thereon and serve and function to tension and maintain the strip 41 and roll 42 in alignment with the feed opening of the stamp affixing mechanism, as will hereinafter be made more apparent. The stationary shaft or rod 43 adjacent one end thereof is bent upon itself at right angles, for the purpose of seating its ter minal portion within a socket or hole 45 formed within the rear face of the printing press bed 29, all as more clearly illustrated in Figures 25 and 26, said terminal portion being removably secured within said socket 45, as by a set screw to.

Coming now to a more detailed description of the stamp afiixing mechanism 40, per se, the numeral 47 designates a relatively heavy open metallic frame or body, which in the present instance is preferably fabricated in one piece,

substantially in the square formation shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 13, said frame having its exterior or marginal surfaces slightly undercut or relieved intermediately of the corners thereof, to thereby provide lock-up block abutting faces 48 thereat. The open frame 47 is adapted to be normally closed both at its front and rear, by a front closure plate 49 and a rear closure plate 50, which plates are detachably secured to the front and rear faces, respectively, of the open frame 47, as by countersunk screws 51, it being here noted that said front and rear closure plates have their edges undercut or relieved intermediately the corners thereof, in a corresponding manner to and for a similar purpose as that above described for the marginal surfaces of the frame 47.

Integrally formed upon, or otherwise rigidly secured to, the inner face of he upper wall of the frame 47, to project inwardly or depend downwardly therefrom, at a point thereon substantially midway the length thereof, is a stepped or shouldered block 52, the front face of which lies in the plane of the front face of the frame 47, while its rear face is disposed below the plane of the rear face of said frame, to thereby provide clearance between the rear face of said block and the inner face of the rear closure plat-e 50, all as more clearly illustrated in Figures 9, 10, 16 and 17, and for a purpose which will hereinafter be more fully set forth. The numeral 53 designates a relatively shallow and longitudinally disposed groove, which is out or formed in the front face of the block intermediately of the shouldered portion thereof and the upper wall of the frame 47, see Figures 8, 1c and 16, said groove having a downwardly and inwardly sloping lower side wall, see Figures 8 and 10, for a purpose which will now be described.

Cut, or otherwise formed, in the front face of the upper wall of the frame 47, at a point thereon intermediately of the block 52 and the right hand wall of said frame, is a vertically disposed groove 54 having inwardly convergent side walls and a flaring upper end, wherein the upper flaring end of a vertically disposed depending guide member 55 is adapted to normally seat in flush relation to the front face of the frame 47, said guide member 55 having the vertical medial portion thereof throughout its length inwardly oifset from the plane of the front face of same, see Figures 5, 9, 16 and 20, and also having inwardly convergent side walls, see Figures 15 and 16, which walls together with the above described offset medial portion form and provide a channel guide for the perforated stamp strip ll normally passing or being fed therethrough, which channel guide also serves and functions to longitudinally bend or curl said stamp strip 41, as it passes therethrough, this to positively stiffen the same and effectually prevent end or lateral curling of the free terminal of the stamp strip, as will be made more manifest and apparent as the description progresses. In order to operatively support the depending guide member 55 within the frame 47, I provide said guide member at the left hand side and adjacent the upper end thereof, see Figures 5 and 16, with an integral or otherwise rigidly connected tongue 56, which is adapted to normally seat within the groove 53 of the block 52, in flush relation to the front face of the frame 47, said tongue being positively retained in said groove by providing the same with a downwardly and inwardly sloping lower edge corresponding to the hereinbefore described downwardly and inwardly sloping lower side wall of the groove 53 with which it normally abuts and interlocks, and being additionally interlocked within said groove against endwise movement therein by a downwardly and inwardly sloping lug or teat 57 integrally formed upon said lower side wall of the groove 53, which lug normally seats within a similarly sloping notch 58 formed in the lower edge of the tongue 56, see Figures 5, 8 and 10. By referring more particularly to Figures 5, 9 and 20, it will be observed that the lower end of the offset medial portion of the guide member extends downwardly beyond the lower ends of the side flanges of said guide member and that such lower end of said medial portion is provided with a centrally disposed downwardly extending or depending resilient arcuate finger 59, the purposes and functions of which extension and finger will shortly be made more apparent.

Disposed'in contiguous parallel relation to the inner face of the right hand wall of the frame 47 are spaced parallel guide rods 60 having their upper terminals rigidly secured within the upper wall of said frame and their lower terminals similarly secured within an inwardly projecting integral boss 61 formed upon the inner face of said right hand wall, at a point thereon adjacent the lower wall of the frame 47, see Figures 7 and 8, and mounted for reciprocative movement upon said guide rods 60 is a stamp feeder block or member 62, which is adapted to extend inwardly from said guide rods 60 in perpendicular relation to the transverse plane thereof and in longitudinal alignment with the rear guide rod, said feeder block being normally interposed between the rear closure plate 50 and the guide member 55, see Fig. 16. Formed within the front face of the feeder block 62 and normally disposed in transversely aligned relation with the inwardly offset medial portion of the guide member 55 is an in verted L-shaped recess 63 through the upper end of which extends a longitudinally disposed pin 64 with its terminal portions seated within the side walls thereof. Positioned within the recess 63 and pivotally mounted upon the pin 64 in abutting relation and for independent pivotal movement thereon is a series of spring-pressed fingers or needle members 65, of the type more clearly illustrated in Fig. 24, said fingers, during advance or downward movements of the stamp feeder block 62, being adapted to engage and advance the perforated stamp strip 41 and during reverse or retractive movements of said feeder block to ride free on said strip. In the present instance, the fingers 65 are relatively small in size, and in consequence are fabricated from comparatively thin sheet metal, wherefrom they are cut or stamped in the desired shape and then symmetrically folded or bent upon themselves, in the manner shown in Figure 24, wherein it will be observed that such fingers are substantially U-shaped in cross-section and are perforated or drilled as at 650 to effect mounting of same upon their pivot pin 64, said fingers also are provided with pointed lower terminals 65?) to facilitate and insure of the same positively engaging the perforations of the perforated stamp strip 41, as will be obvious and manifest. As above described the springpress fingers 65 are preferably U-shaped in crosssection, this for the purpose of inserting individual looped or return-bent springs 65c therein, see Fig. 24, which springs at their looped ends are pivotally mounted upon the pivot pin 64, in such a manner, that the longer or forward legs thereof are normally in abutment with the inner lower faces of the fingers 65, while the shorter or rear legs of same are normally in abutment with the rear wall of the recess 63, all as more clearly shown in Fig. 20, so that said springs 65c serve and function to maintain and retain their correlated individual fingers in contact with the stamp strip 41 at all times. By referring to Figs. 9, 20 and 24, it will be noted, that the fingers 65 are provided or formed upon their rear edges and adjacent the upper ends thereof, with shoulders or lips 6511, which are adapted to contact with the upper face of the rear wall of the recess 63, to thereby limit the outward movement of said fingers from their associated recess 63, in the event of the removal of the guide member 55, or the removal of the feeder block 62 from the stamp affixing mechanism for repairs or replacement.

The numeral 66 designates a longitudinally disposed groove or slot formed within the rear face of the feeder block 62, see Figs. 9, 13 and 20, within which groove is normally seated for reciprocation therein a pin 67 rigidly seemed to the outer end of a spring-pressed feeder block actuating lever 68, adjacent its lower edge, see Fig. 13, said lever having its opposite end pivotally mounted, as by a pin 69, upon an inwardly projecting boss 70 integrally formed on the inner face and upper end of the left hand wall of the frame 47, see Figs. 5, 16 and 17, and with such opposite end of the lever normally seating within a longitudinally disposed recess 71 cut or formed in the rear face of said wall and boss, see Figs. 9 to 14, inclusive, 17 and 20. Integrally formed upon, or otherwise rigidly secured to the front face of the lever 68,

adjacent its pivoted end, to extend perpendicularly or forwardly therefrom is a stub pin 72, and interposed between the latter and the inner face of the upper wall of the frame 47 is a helical compression spring 73 for returning the lever 68 and feeder block 62 to their lowered or advanced positions following each actuation thereof, the upper end of which spring embraces a pin 7311 depending from the inner face of said upper wall, see Figs. 5 and 13, whereby dislodgment of said spring is effectually prevented, as will be manifest and apparent. Similarly formed upon or secured to the front face of the lever 68, adjacent the pin 72, is a cam or lug 74 having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined front face, for a reason and purpose which will now be described.

Interposed between the lower wall of the frame 47 and the shoulder of the block 52 is a springpressed oscillative or rocker member 75, which in the present instance is preferably mounted for oscillation or rocking movement upon a pin 76, see Figs. 8, 17, 18 and 19, which pin extends through said lower wall and oscillative member and at its upper shouldered terminal is threadedly secured in the shoulder of the block 52, see Fig. 8. Integrally formed upon and extending laterally from the left hand side of the upper portion of the oscillative member 75 is an arm 75a having an enlarged outer terminal or knob provided with a convex front or outer face 751) and upon its rear face with a recess 750, see Figs.

4, 5, 16 and 17, within which recess a roller 77 is rotatively mounted, said roller being normally disposed in spaced relation to the cam or lug 74 of the lever 68 see Figs. 11, 16 and 17, and being adapted to abut or contact the downwardly and rearwardly inclined front face of said cam or lug to elevate the lever 68 and thus effect actuation of the feeder block, as will be manifest and ap parent. The enlarged terminal or knob of the arm 75a, when the same is in a retracted or in- H operative position, is adapted to extend through a rectangular opening 49a out or formed within the front closure plate 49 in alignment with said terminal, so that the convex face b of the lat ter will project very slightly from said plate, all as more clearly illustrated in Figs. 4, 9, 10, 11, 16 and 17, this for a purpose which will hereinafter be made more apparent. Integrally formed upon and extending laterally from the right hand side of the lower portion of the oscillative member 75 is a fin or wing 756, to which is detachably secured, as by screws 78, a stamp cutter and affixing plate 79, which in the present instance is preferably fabricated in rectangular formation. Embracing the shank of the oscillative member 75 intermediately of the arm 75a and fin 75a, for returning said member to its retracted or inoperative position following each actuation thereof, is a helical torsional spring 80, the upper end of which is seated within said arm 75a, while the lower end thereof is normally in abutment with the end wall of a stationary block 81, see Figs. 5, 8, 13 and 17, the construction and functions of which will be shortly described. To limit the retractive or return movement of the oscillative member '15 I provide an upwardly projecting stop pin 82 rigidly secured to the inner face of the lower wall of the frame 4'? in the path of oscillative travel of the stamp cutter and affixing plate 79 for abutment by the rear face of the latter, see Fig. 18.

In the present construction and operation the feeder block 62 and its correlated actuating lever 68 are adapted to be held or locked in their elevated or raised position, while the stamps are being affixed to the matter being printed, and for this purpose I provide, within and at the right hand side of the frame 47, a vertically disposed and spring-pressed latch member 83, pi"- otally mounted at its lower end, as by a pin 83a, to the rear face of the frame 47, said face being recessed, as shown at ela, in the lower left hand corners of Figs. 7 and 13, to receive said lower end, so that said latch member will normally be disposed in fiush relation with the rear face of the frame 4'7. The upper end and inner edge of the latch member 83 is notched or recessed, as at 831) to engage a terminal notch 68a formed in the lower edge and outer free end of the lever 68, when the latter is in its raised position indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 13. To disengage or release the lever 68 from the latch member 83, to thereby permit downward or advance movement of said lever and its correlated feeder block 62, I provide said latch member upon its inner edge and adjacent its lower end with a forwardly extending cam or lug 83c adapted to be abutted by the end of the stamp cutter and amxing plate 79 upon its return movement, see Fig. 18, whereby the latch member is caused to move away from the notched end of the lever 68 and permit same to drop, as will be manifest and apparent by referring more particularly to Figs. 13 and 18. A flat spring 8301 having one end seated in the adjacent side wall of the frame 47 and its other or free end bearing upon the outer edge of the latch member 83, at a point thereon substantially midway the height thereof, see Fig. 13, serves and functions to positively insure of said latch member engaging the lever 68, when the former is released by advance movement of the stamp cutter and afiixing plate 79.

Returning now to the block 81, for a detailed description of the same, said block is rigidly secured, as by screws 84, to the inner face of the rear closure plate 50, and is adapted to be normally positioned between the lower end of the depending shouldered block 52 and the fin 75c and the cutter plate 79, see Figs. 5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 20 and 21, and to extend transversely through the frame 47, so that its front or forward face is in flush relation with the front face of said frame. Formed within the front face of the block 81, in vertically aligned relation with the inwardly offset medial portion or channel of the guide member 55, is a vertically disposed arcuate groove or channel 85, through which the longitudinally curled stamp strip 41 is adapted to be fed or pass, see Figs. 9, 17 and 20, said stamp strip, as it is fed or passes through said groove being nor mally maintained in contact with the arcuate wall thereof by the resilient finger 59 of the guide member 55, in order to insure of the proper and uniform moistening of the stamp strip thereat by the moistening means which will now be described.

Seated within the lower left hand portion of the frame 47 is a water tank 86 provided upon its front wall with a filling opening normally closed by a threaded plug 86a, which latter extends through an opening 491) out or formed within the front closure plate 49 in alignment with said plug, so that filling and refilling of said water tank may be rapidly and readily effected without the necessity of removing said front closure plate. Mounted for reciprocative movement within the water tank 86, substantially in vertical alignment with the stub pin '72, is a spring-pressed vertically disposed pump piston or plunger 861) the upper end portion of which projects from the upper end of the water tank 86, as shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, and is provided with a terminal head 86c adapted to normally abut the stub pin 72 of the lever 68. A helical spring 86d, for effecting retractive movements of the pump piston 86b, embraces the upper projecting portion of the latter and is interposed between the top of the water tank 86 and the terminal head 860 of such piston, as shown in the drawings. Formed within the lower end of the water tank 86 in axial alignment with the pump piston 86?) is a pump chamber 86c, wherein the lower terminal portion of said pump piston is adapted to reciprocate, said pump chamher having a suction or inlet opening 86 controlled by a spring-pressed ball. or check valve 869 and also having a discharge or outlet opening 86%, wherewith is connected the lower end of an upwardly inclined tube or conduit 87, which extends longitudinally through the water tank 86 and the inner side wall thereof to project therefrom, see Fig. 13, and at its upper end is connected to the lower end of a vertically disposed passageway 81a formed within the block 81, see Figs. 10 and 21, the upper end of which communicates with a chamber 81b formed in the upper portion of said block 81. Seated within the block 81 in axial alignment with the chamber 811) is a plug 810, which in the present instance forms and constitutes the forward end wall of said chamber 811), substantially in the manner more clearly illustrated in Fig. 21, said plug having an axial bore 81d formed therein, within the inner end of which is slidably mounted the triangularly shaped shank 816 of a conical-shaped check valve 81f, see Figs. 21 and 23, said valve being adapted to seat within the upper end of the passageway 81a during the suction strokes of the pump piston 86b. Connected to and communicating with the outer end of the axial bore 81d is the upper inner terminal of a longitudinally disposed spray tube 88 having a downwardly disposed and inwardly inclined semi-circular terminal 88a provided upon its inner side with a series of uniformly spaced discharge orifices or apertures 8817, see Figs. 17 and 20, said semi-circular terminal 880. being adapted to normally extend within the semi-circular groove 85 of the block 81 in close proximity to the stamp strip 41, as shown in said views, in order to insure that the water issuing, or being sprayed, from the orifices 88b will be confined and restrictcd to said stamp strip and thereby effect positive moistening of the adhesive thereon. In order to effectually regulate and control the amount of water issuing from the orifices 88b 1 provide a peripherally knurled eccentric control disk 89 and rotatively mount same, as by a pin 89a, upon the inner face of the boss '70, see Figs. 5, 14, 16 and 17, said disk being disposed in the plane of travel of the pump piston 86b, as shown, and being adapted for partial rotative movement between the positions shown in full lines and dot and dash lines in Fig. 14, it being here noted, that when the disk 89 is in the elevated or raised position shown in full lines, maximum travel of the pump piston 862) will occur, and in consequence the maximum amount of water will be discharged from the orifices 88b, however, as the disk 89 is turned in a clockwise direction, the travel of said pump piston will be gradually decreased, hence, gradually diminishing the amount of water discharged at said orifices, until, when the disk 89 is moved to its lowest position shown in dot and dash lines, the terminal head 860 of the piston is out of contact with the stub pin 72, hence, no

' pumping action occurs and no water is discharged from the orifices 88b. Obviously, therefore, the amount of moisture from zero to maximum, or vice versa, applied or furnished to the adhesive stamp strip 41 is rapidly and readily controlled and regulated. To accomplish such regulation without removing the front closure plate 49 I provide the latter, in the plane of the disk 89, with a vertically disposed rectangular slit or opening 490, wherethrough the knurled periphery of said disk is readily accessible to the finger of the operator.

Cut or formed in the lower right hand portion of the front closure plate 49, see Fig. 4, is a relatively large and slightly irregularly shaped opening 49d, which opening adjacent its upper end extends to the right hand edge of said closure plate, as shown in said figure. This opening has several functions; first, the lower portion thereof is utilized to effect cutting and discharge of the moistened stamps from the stamp affixing apparatus by the stamp cutter and affixing plate '79 and to permit the latter to project from said apparatus for efiecting fixture of the stamps upon the material being printed, substantially in the manner shown in Fig. 19; secondly, the mid-portion of said opening is utilized for mounting a complemental shearing plate 90 upon the frame 4'? and the face of the block 81, in such a manner, that such shearing plate will be disposed in the plane of the front closure plate 49 and its lower edge will co-act in shearing relation with the upper edge of the plate 79; and thirdly, or lastly, the upper portion of said opening permits of ready access to and observation of the spray tube 88, for rapidly ascertaining and determining whether the stamp moistening means is functioning in the :desired manner, and also to effect rapid removal of said spray tube 88, without the necessity of removing or detaching the closure plate 49 from its frame 47.

The complemental shearing plate 90 is pivotally mounted at its inner end to the block 81, as by a fillister headed screw 90a and adjacent its outer end is provided with a relatively short slot 991) through which extends a similar screw 900, which latter is adapted to be threadedly secured within the front face of the right hand side wall of the frame 4'7, said slot and last mentioned screw permitting of limited shearing movement of the plate 90 in relation to the cutter plate 79. To maintain the outer end of the shearing plate 90 in a lowered or shearing position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, I provide a fiat spring 96d, having its inner end fixedly seated in the adjacent side wall of the frame 47, while its outer or free end bears upon the upper edge of the shearing plate 90 at the outer end thereof, see Figs. 4 and 6.

The star lp affixing mechanism 40 is adapted to be actuated during each printing operation of the printing press 28, to thereby affix a stamp upon each article being printed, this actuation may be accomplished by various means, however, in the present instance, I have elected to show and describe the specific means now preferred and employed by me, although it is to be understood that I do not desire to be restricted thereto, the present showing being merely by way of example and illustration. The numeral 92 designates a stud or knob for actuating the stamp affixing mechanism, which stud is detachably secured to and is so located upon the face of the platen 3'7, that when the latter is swung upwardly to a printing position, such stud will be in alignment and registration with the opening 49a of the front closure plate 49 and in consequence willeontact or abut the convex face b of the a m 75a prior to completion of the upward or printing movement of the platen 3'7 and thus cause said arm to move inwardly to eifect actuation of the stamp afiixing mechanism.

In Fig. 1 the numeral 93 designates an envelope, as it would appear when positioned on the platen '37 and seated within the gauge pins 38 to receive the printing impression from the corner card or printing type 34 and a stamp from the stamp affixing mechanism 40. In Fig. 27 the numeral 94 designates an envelope, as it would appear following the printing operation, the numoral 95 designating the corner card or return address thereon and the numeral 96 the stamp affixed thereto. '1 l The operation of simultaneously printing and stamping envelopes, cards, wrappers, or the like,

is carried out, as follows: The chase 30 being detached from the printing press 28, the corner card or other printing type 34 and the stamp affixing mechanism or unit 40 are locked in spaced relation therein, in a well known and obvious manner, by the lock-up blocks 32 and shown in Fig. 2, this in order to prevent the inking roll or rollers 36 contacting or rolling upon said front and convex faces and to thus eliminate possibility of the platen or the matter being printed and stamped from becoming smeared with ink. Upon completion of the foregoing, the chase 30 is positioned in the printing press 28 and clamped to the bed 29 thereof by the lever 31, following which the inking disc 35 is supplied with ink, the gauge pins 38 are attached to the platen 3'7 in such position to correctly locate the envelope 93 thereon and properly present same to the corner card 34 and unit 40, the stud 92 is located upon and secured to the platen 3'7 so that such stud will abut the convex face '75?) during successive printing and stamping operations. In order to effect rapid positioning and accurate placement of the gauge pins 38 and stud 92 upon the platen 37, I have found it, in some instances, to be desirable and expedient in practice, to employ relatively small templates, not shown, which are detachably secured to the cover plate 49 over the convex face 757) and cutter and afiixing plate '79, the outer faces of said templates being type high, so that the inking roller or rollers 36 will contact and ink the same and upon closing of the printing press 28, said templates will make impressions upon the platen, thus indicating therein the exact stamp affixing location and also the exact position where the stud 92 should be attached thereto. The water tank 86 is then filled with water in an obvious manner, following which, the arm a of the member '75 is manually depressed several times to effect oscillation of the arm 68, which during each complete oscillative movement thereof, causes a complete reciprocation of the pump piston 86b, 'to thereby effect priming of the spray tube 88.

- A roll of stamps 42 is then placed upon the shaft 43 and adjusted thereon by the flanges 44 so as to dispose the same in aligned relation with the flaring upper end of the guide member 55, whereupon unwinding of the roll 42 is initiated, and the free terminal of the stamp strip 41 passing therefrom is inserted within said flaring upper end, with its adhesive coated side facing outwardly. The stamp strip is then pushed downwardly or manually fed through said guide member 55, into the path of travel of the fingers or needle members 65, such manual feeding of said stamp strip being continued until the lower edge of the terminal stamp thereof shows below the upper edge of the opening 49d, as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 1, at which time, the stamp strip 41 is in position for subsequent accurate feeding by the fingers 65, in other words, with the lower edge of the terminal stamp so located, said fingers during their next downward travel or movement will engage the stamp strip 41 and exactly feed one stamp into registration with the spray tube 88, in the manner now to be described, such, movement of said fingers 65 being eifected by again manually depressing the arm 75b, which in turn elevates the lever 68 and block 62 and upon the return or downward movement of the latter its fingers 65 engage the adjacent perforations in the stamp strip 41, whereby the terminal stamp is brought into registration with the spray tube 88, as shown in Figs. 4 and 20, and is moistened thereby, upon the stub pin '72 contacting the pump plunger 86b near the end of the downward movement of the lever 68. The arm 75b is again manually depressed to elevate the lever 68 and block 62, and upon the return of the latter the fingers 65 again engage the ad.- jacent perforations of the stamp strip 41, to thus feed the terminal stamp into position for cutting and afiixing same, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9, and at the same time the second or succeeding stamp is brought into registration with the spray tube 88 and is moistened thereby upon the stub pin '72 again contacting the pump plunger 86b near the end of the downward travel of the lever 68.

The stamp affixing mechanism or unit 40 is now in readiness and condition for automatic operation by the printing press 28, to effect the simultaneous printing and stamping of the envelope or envelopes 93, which is performed by inserting or seating the initial envelope 93 within the gauge pins 88, in the manner shown more clearly in Fig. l, whereupon the printing press 28 is put into operation causing the platen 3'7 to close and present such envelope to the corner card 34 and stamp aifixing mechanism 40, at which time, the envelope receives an impression from said corner card and concurrently therewith the stud 92 contacts the convex face 751) causing the arm 75a of the member '75 to move inwardly and the cutter and alfixing plate '79, rigidly attached to said member, to move forwardly and outwardly, which latter during such movement in conjunction with the shearing plate 90 cuts or shears the moistened terminal stamp from the strip 41 and afiixes same to the envelope 93, while this is taking place the arm 75a moves inwardly, as above stated, and the roller '77 thereof contacts the cam '74 on the lever 68, thereby elevating the latter together with the stamp feeder block 62 and its correlated fingers 65, which lever and block upon reaching the limit of their upward travel are locked thereat by the latch 83. Return or opening movement of the platen 37 removes pressure from the convex face 75b causing the helical torsional spring to return the arm 75a and the cutter and affixing plate 79 to their retracted positions, at which time, said plate contacts the cam 830 of the latch member 83 to release the lever 68 and block 62 and permits the helical compression spring '73 to return the same to a lowered position. During return or downward movement of the block 62 the fingers 65 thereof engage the adjacent or opposing perforations of the stamp strip 41 and feed or advance the latter, an amount equal to the length of one stamp, to thus bring the succeeding termi-- nal stamp into its cutting and affixing position and its following or succeeding stamp into registration with the spray tube 88, and again near the end of the downward movement of the lever 68, the stub pin '72 thereof contacts the head 860 of the pump plunger 86?) and forces same downwardly thereby causing ejection of water from the orifices 88b of the spray tube 88 in the form of a fine spray, which latter moistens said following stamp in registration with said spray tube 88. Upon return of the platen 3'7 the printed and stamped envelope is removed therefrom and a blank envelope inserted within the gauge pins 38, whereupon the above described operation is repeated for the latter and succeeding envelopes.

In the accompanying drawings and in the foregoing description I have shown and described the stamps as being furnished to the stamp aifixing mechanism 40 in the form of a strip 41 from a roll 42 located exterior-1y of said mechanism, but, I desire to have it here understood that I am aware that such stamps may be furnished to the mechanism 40 in various other ways, which are equally efficient and practical, the present disclosure being merely by way of illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

Manifestly, therefore, the stamp amxing mechanism of the present invention will function to simultaneously print and stamp envelopes, cards,

wrappers, or the like, of any size which may be accommodated by the associated printing press; will apply stamps uniformly and in exactly the same position upon each envelope, or other article being printed; will not readily get out of order; may be rapidly and expeditiously installed in and removed from a printing press; is reliable and efficient in use and operation; is adaptable for use with various types of printing presses, envelope addressing machines, envelope folding machines, multigraphing machines, and mimeographing machines; and is compact, durable and economical in construction.

While I have herein shown and described the invention with sumcient detail to enable those skilled in the art to which it pertains to understand the mode of construction and the principles involved, it is to be understood that there is no intentional limitation herein to the specific form and precise details of construction shown and described, except as expressly defined by the appended claims, and that various modifications of the same may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the benefits derivable therefrom. It is also to be understood that certain features of the invention herein disclosed may be employed in and with other combinations than those shown and described.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. The combination with printing apparatus, of a chase, printing type and a stamp afiixing mechanism locked in said chase, and means for actuating said mechanism during each printing operation of said apparatus to thereby afiix a stamp upon the article being printed.

2. The combination with a printing press, of a chase, printing type, and a stamp affixing mechanism locked in said chase, and means on a moving part of said press for actuating said mechanism during each imprinting operation of said printing type to thereby affix a stamp upon the article being printed.

3. The combination with a printing press, of a bed, a chase clamped to said bed, printing type and a stamp affixing mechanism fixedly secured within said chase, a platen, and means on said platen for actuating said stamp affixing mechanism during each imprinting operation of said prlnting type to hereby affix a stamp upon the article being printed.

4. The combination with a printing press, of a chase, printing type and a stamp aifixing mechanism locked in said chase, and means on said press for actuating said stamp affixing mechanism concurrently with said printing type contacting the article to be printed to thereby affix a stamp thereto.

5. The combination with a printing press, of a chase, printing type and a stamp affixing mechanism locked in said chase, said affixing mechanism, including means for supporting and feeding stamps therethrough, means for adhesively moistening said stamps, and means for adhesively uniting the stamps to the articles being printed, and means on said printing press for actuating for adhesively uniting same to the article being printed, and means operable by the printing press for actuating said feeding, moistening, cutting and uniting means during each printing operation.

'7. The combination with a printing press, of a chase, printing type and a stamp afilxing mechanism locked in said chase, said aflixing mechanism, including means for supporting and guiding a strip of stamps therethrough, a reciprocative member for intermittently advancing said strip, means for adhesively moistening the same, means for cutting a stamp from said strip, means for adhesively uniting same to the matter eing printed, and means operable by the printing press for actuating said feeding, moistening, cutting and uniting means during each printing operation.

8. A stamp arfixing mechanism, having in combination, means for supporting and guiding a strip of stamps therethrough, said means being also adapted to longitudinally bend said strip to stiffen the same, a reciprocative member for intermittently advancing said strip, means for adhesively moistening each stamp of said strip prior to its being advanced to its affixing position by said reciprocative member, and means for cutting said advanced moistened stamp from the strip and adhesively uniting same to the matter to be stamped.

9. A stamp afiixing mechanism, having in combination, means for supporting and guiding a strip of stamps therethrough a reciprocative member for intermittently advancing said strip, means for adhesively moistening said strip, and 110 an oscillative member for cutting stamps from said strip and adhesively uniting same to the matter to be stamped, said oscillative member being also adapted to effect actuation of said reciprocative member and moistening means.

10. A stamp affixing mechanism, having in combination, means for supporting and guiding a strip 01" stamps therethrough, a reciprocative member having a series of fingers thereon for engaging and advancing said strip during advance 120 movements of said reciprocative member, a spring-pressed oscillative lever for reciprocating said reciprccative member, means for locking said member and lever in a retracted position, mechanism for adhesively moistening said strip 125 adapted to be actuated by said oscillative lever during advance movements of the same, and an oscillative member for actuating said oscillative lever and for cutting stamps from said strip and adhesively uniting same to the matter being printed, said oscillative member being also adapted to trip said locking means during each oscillative movement thereof.

11. The combination with a printing press, of a bed, a chase clamped to said bed, printing type and a stamp affixing mechanism locked in said chase, including a roll of stamps rotatively mounted upon said bed above said chase and adapted to be fed to said mechanism in a continuous strip, means for adhesively moistening said strip, and means actuated by the printing press during each printing operation thereof for cutting stamps from said strip and adhesively uniting same to the matter being printed.

12. A stamp affixing mechanism comprising a 145 casing, a stamp holder, means for feeding stamps through the casing, means for stiffening said stamps during the feeding thereof, moistening mechanism for the stamps, means for regulating the amount of moisture applied to the stamps, 15p.

and means for jointly actuating said feeding and moistening means.

13. The combination with a printing press, of a bed, a chase clamped to said bed, a platen,

, printing type and a stamp affixing mechanism,

said printing type and stamp aiiixing mechanism being fixedly secured in spaced relation within said chase, and means on said platen for actuating said stamp affixing mechanism during each imprinting operation of said printing type to thereby aifix a stamp upon the article being printed.

1d. The combination with a printing press, of a chase, printing type and a stamp affixing mechanism locked in said chase, said stamp afiixing mechanism including means for supporting and intermittently feeding a strip of stamps therethrough, means for adhesively moistening said stamps, and means actuated by the printing press during each printing operation thereof for cutting stamps from said strip between the intermittent movements of same, said cutting means being also adapted to adhesively unite the cut stamps to the article being printed.

15. The combination with a printing press, of a chase, printing type and a stamp afiixing mechanism locked in said chase, said stamp aiiixing mechanism including means for supporting and feeding a continuous strip of stamps thereithrough, means for longitudinally bending said strip, means for adhesively moistening said stamps, and means actuated by the printing press during each printing operation thereof for cutting stamps from said strip and adhesively uniting same to the article being printed.

16. The combination with a printing press, of a chase, printing type and a stamp affixing mechanism locked in said chase, said stamp affixing mechanism including means for supporting and feeding a continuous strip of stamps therethrough, said strip being perforated intermediately of said stamps, means for rendering said stamps adhesive, and means actuated by the printing press during the printing opera- ,Yitlons thereof for severing the strip at the perforations thereof and adhesively uniting the severed stamps to the article being printed.

17. The combination with a printing press, of a chase, printing type and a stamp affixing mechanism locked in said chase, said stamp aflixing mechanism including means for supporting and guiding a strip of stamps therethrough, a reciprocative member for intermittently advancing said strip, means for adhesively moistening said strip, means for cutting stamps from said strip and adhesively uniting same to the matter being printed, and an oscillative member operable by the printing press during each printing operation for effecting actuation of said reciprocative member, moistening and cutting means.

18. A stamp affixing mechanism, having in combination, means for supporting and guiding a strip of stamps therethrough, a reciprocative member having a series of fingers for intermittently engaging and advancing said strip, means for adhesively moistening said strip, and a springretracted oscillative member for cutting stamps from said strip and adhesively uniting same to the matter to be stamped, said oscillative member being also adapted to eiiect actuation of said reciprocative member and moistening means.

19. A stamp affixing mechanism, having in combination, means for supporting and guiding a strip of stamps therethrough, a reciprocative member having a series of fingers thereon for intermittently engaging and advancing said strip, an oscillative lever for reciprocating said member, mechanism for adhesively moistening said strip adapted to be actuated by said oscillative lever, and an oscillative member for actuating said oscillative lever and for cutting stamps from said strip and adhesively uniting same to the matter to be stamped.

20. A stamp afiixing mechanism, having in combination, means for supporting and guiding strip of stamps therethrough, said means being adapted to longitudinally bend said strip while guiding the same, a reoiprocative member having a series of fingers thereon for engaging and advancing said strip during advance movements of said reciprocative member, a spring-pressed oscillative lever for reciprocating said reciprocative member, a latch member for locking said reciprocative member and oscillative lever in a retracted position, mechanism including a pump for adhesively moistening said strip, said pump being actuated by said oscillative lever during advance movements of the same, a spring-pressed oscillative member for actuating said oscillative lever, and a cutting member on said oscillative member for cutting stamps from said strip and adhesively uniting same to the matter being printed, said cutting member being adapted to trip said latch member during each cutting op- I 

